Yemen troops foil attack on hospital, 6 killed

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Yemeni troops foiled a militant attack on a military-affiliated hospital Saturday in the country’s south, setting off clashes that killed four militants and two soldiers, the defense ministry said.

The ministry statement said the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday on the hospital in Hadramawt province, setting off a battle that lasted for an hour.

The Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Saeed Mohammed al-Faqih said the militants were seen transporting away from the scene a number of their wounded. Al-Faqih said a reinforcement military force joined to chase the militants, but he didn’t say if anyone was arrested.

There were no reports of damage or injuries among civilians or to the hospital.

Yemen is home to one of the most active branches of al-Qaida.

The government has waged repeated offensives to drive out the militants from the south, most recently this spring. The group retaliated with a series of attacks against troops and security. On Thursday, militants carried out coordinated attacks against an airport, a military barracks and post office in the province, killing 15.

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